Towards stronger representation of the business users of digital technologies

Euro.digital founded to improve the balance between the
representation of business users and IT vendors at European institutions

Euro.digital, the cooperative of national CIO
associations in Europe has just been launched. Through the national
associations, euro.digital represents more than 1000 CIO’s and companies across
Europe. In discussions about digital transformation, the needs
and perspectives of the business users are all too often lost within a focus on
the interests of private consumers on the one hand and the technology-focus and
interests of the IT-suppliers and service providers on the other. Both these
groups traditionally have a strong representation in Brussels.

Yet for economic growth and prosperity in Europe and
of European businesses, it has been shown that adoption of digital technology by
business users is a key element. To ensure that the voice of the business user
is clearly heard, euro.digital will use its influence
to actively promote professional users’ interests at the international and
European levels.

Common positions towards
the major IT service providers

As businesses rely more and more on
digital services, euro.digital recognizes the need to share common concerns towards
strong international IT services providers.
There is a need to discuss issues like

cloud exit possibilities

risks on vendor lock in

the complicated software
licensing schemes

acceptable
practices for software publisher’s behavior

unambiguous
software licensing contracts with a clear definition of responsibilities for
both software vendors and the customers.

This cannot be done on the national level,
but will the key issue for euro.digital, and to create positions on the many
regulatory issues, for the European Commission and related authorities.

Input towards the European
Commission

Other shared topics for collaboration include the implementation
of the EU general data protection regulations (GDPR),
Privacy Shield implementations and impact, cyber security issues in companies, but
also new evolutions like blockchain and artificial intelligence get our
attention.

“In addition to strengthening our
representation on the issues the national associations already address, this
cooperation will allow us to work decisively on new domains, to enhance the
scope of the services we provide to our members,” says Poul Erik Moelgaard
Rasmussen, Secretary General of euro.digital.

Euro.digital is very proud to announce a cooperation
with Europol and planning a European Conference in Dusseldorf July 2nd
and 3rd. The topic of this conference is European cooperation on
handling digicrimes and cybersecurity problems.

“euro.digital will bring value to its
members,” comments Thomas Endres, Chairman of euro.digital. “euro.digital’s
mission is to bring down all the barriers
companies and public institutions face when developing their digital strategies.
I am convinced that euro.digital will enforce our efforts.”